Flock & ALPR Cameras in South Dakota
At least 187 automated license plate readers have been reported across South Dakota — the 44th most-surveilled state in the country by camera count.
Updated Oct 6, 2026 · Live data
187 automated license plate readers have been reported in South Dakota as of October 6, 2026, ranking it #44 of 52 states and territories. They are documented in 22 cities and towns across 15 counties. 83 percent are Flock Safety cameras.
17 cameras were added to the South Dakota map in the last 30 days and 26 were removed. The most recent camera was reported on September 7, 2026. Sioux Falls (67) has the most, followed by Madison (25) and Brandon (21).
Source: community-mapped camera data (OpenStreetMap, ODbL) with DeFlock The USA’s permanent history.
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Every one of those 187 cameras photographs the plate of each car that passes it — logging where South Dakota drivers go, when, and how often, whether or not anyone is suspected of a crime. Here’s what that means, and what you can do about it.
- Oct 6, 2026 On the agenda: Canton Board of Commission Meeting — facial recognition (Oct 6)
- Sep 22, 2026 On the agenda: Brookings City Council — Automated License Plate (Sep 22)
- Sep 18, 2026 On the agenda: Brookings City Council on 2026-09-22 6:00 PM - Sep 22, 2026 — Automated License Plate (Sep 18)
- Sep 14, 2026 On the agenda: Madison City Commission Work Session — License Plate Reader (Sep 14)
Every record for this area on the Docket → · nothing is ever deleted.
- Oct 6 Flock Safety camera newly reported
- Oct 6 Flock Safety camera newly reported
- Oct 6 Flock Safety camera newly reported
- Oct 6 Flock Safety camera newly reported
Newly reported by volunteers — cameras may have been up long before someone mapped them.
📷 13 new license plate readers just reported around Sioux Falls, SD. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #SiouxFalls
What these cameras actually do
Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) like those sold by Flock Safety aren’t normal traffic cameras. Each one reads every passing plate, stamps it with a time and location, and stores it in a searchable database — often shared across agencies. Across South Dakota, that’s 187 points quietly building a record of residents’ movements. See how the tech works and where your data goes.
How South Dakota compares
South Dakota ranks #44 of 52 states and territories by reported ALPR cameras — part of a fast-growing national footprint. Nationwide, volunteers have mapped over 143,000 cameras and counting. Nearby by camera count: District of Columbia (153), Montana (87), West Virginia (253), Puerto Rico (212).
The latest from South Dakota
- Ahlers urges local say over South Dakota license plate cameras
- Mayor of South Dakota city issues executive order on Flock cameras
- SF Flock Cameras 9-15-2026 - Rapid City, South Dakota | News, Weather and Sports
- New chapter on the network: DeFlock Dakota (Statewide, South Dakota)
- Thousands of South Dakota habitat license plates do nothing for habitat, due to two-part process
On camera in South Dakota — each opens right here on DeFlock:
The conversation about South Dakota:
DeFlock The USA@deflocktheusaBluesky📷 13 new license plate readers just reported around Sioux Falls, SD. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #SiouxFalls23 hours ago
Northeast Radio SD@northeastradiosdMastodonCodington County Commission Hears Concerns Over Flock Safety License Plate Readers, Data Privacy in Watertown 👉https://zurl.co/kwm4x Read more local & state news at https://zurl.co/8Sasd Subscribe to the DAILY newsletter & download the LOCAL online RADIO app - https://zurl.co/skr1U2 months ago
Bock Sam@bocksam.bsky.socialBluesky3/3. Do not be fooled into thinking that these Flock cameras are only in large metro areas. Below are a few screen shots that show where they have been documented in rural areas. Check the ALT for descriptions…8 months ago
Capitalist Lion Tamer@timcushing.bsky.socialBlueskyI have apparently been *severely* misinformed about Flock Safety and its automatic license plate readers10 months agoAll surveillance news → · All video & feeds →
What you can do in South Dakota
You don’t have to accept it — and you don’t have to be anti-safety to demand accountability. File a public records request to learn your town’s retention and data-sharing policy, speak up at a city-council meeting, and see the full playbook on our Take Action page.
Not sure what one looks like? See photographs of installed cameras before you go looking.
DeFlock Dakota — Statewide, South Dakota
South Dakota group organizing around Sioux Falls’ Flock contract, with council meeting alerts and the original 25-camera order form.
Join the fight ↗Flock & ALPR cameras by city in South Dakota
We track 25 South Dakota cities and towns with reported cameras — each with its own local report:
Flock & ALPR cameras by county in South Dakota
15 South Dakota counties have at least one reported camera. Tap any county for its full local report.
Counts come from the open-source DeFlock project’s volunteer reports and update as new cameras are mapped. A county not listed has no reported cameras yet — not necessarily none. Spot one? Report it.